Illuminating device and reflector for show-cases.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

W. A. MERRITT. ILLUMINATING DEVICE AND REFLECTOR FOR SHOW GASES.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 25, 1902.,

N0 HODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

ATTORN YNE Noflms Pz-rcns co. moro-Lrrua, WASHINGTON. w, c,

'No. 733,670. PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

W. A. MERRITT'. ILLUMINATING DEVICE AND REFLECTOR FUR SHOW GASES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR W11 an 11-. 49M, M4443 1 Elf i arr-1 Patented July 14, 1903.

ATENT WILLARD A. MERRITT, OF BROOKLYN, NE YORK', AssieNon TO GEORGE FRINK sPENcER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

lLLUMlNATlNG DEVICE AND REFLECTOR FOR sHow cA scs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. reaevomatea July 14, 1903;

Application filed August 25,1902. $erial No. 120,867. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD A. MERRITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminating Devices and Reflectors for Show-Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in illumination devices and reflectors for use in show and other display cases; and the invention has for its principal object to zo'provide a neat and simply-constructed device for illuminating show-cases, employing,

' in connection with the electric lamp or lamps, a suitably-constructed reflector and novel arrangement of protector therein in which the wires are arranged so as not to be exposed to view and not to provide an unsightlyarrangement of the wires.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly set forth will appear from the following detailed description of the present invention.

The invention therefore consistsin the novel construction of illuminating device and reflector hereinafter more particularly set forth;

5 and, furthermore, this invention consists in the various novel arrangements and combinations of parts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof, with a view of providing a simple means for quickly securing 0 the duct, which contains the wires in the reflector-body proper, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended to and form part of this speci- 5 ficat-ion.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a face view of the illuminating device and reflector. Fig. 2 is a part side ele- 5o vation and part longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the device on an enlarged scale and a transverse section of a portion of a show-case, illustrating the arrangement of the illuminating device and reflector within the 'show-case;'and Fig. 4: is a transverse section of the illuminating device and reflector, said section being taken on line 4 4 in Fig. l and illustrating in connection therewith a transverse section of a portion of the show-case and the means for securing the reflector-body in position by means of suitable screws. Figs. 5,

6, and 7 are various transverse sections of the device on a still larger scale, said sections being taken, respectively, on lines 5 5, 6 6, and 7 7 in said Fig. 1 of the drawings. Fig.

8 is a perspective view of the wire duct and protector before being arranged in its proper position in the reflector-body proper.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said hereinabove-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

In the said drawings the reference character 1 indicates the reflector-body proper, and the same consists, essentially, of a troughshaped portion 2 of any suitable length and preferably of a semicircular cross section, the said portion being also made with a rearwardly extending receiving portion or member 3, providing a longitudinal channel, preferably of a rectangular cross-section and preferably formed integral with the said trough-shaped portion 2. The said troughshaped portion 2 may be suitably finished along its marginal edge with ornamental beads 4 and closed at its ends by means of plates 5, substantially as illustrated; but of course it will be evident that the said reflector-body may be made and finished ofi in any other suitable manner. Each end plate no 5 is also preferably made with suitable openings or perforations, as 6, into and through which the electric wires 7 lead to be arranged in the bottom of the said receiving portion or member 3, as shown, and to be con- 5 nected with the lamps 8, which are supported above the protector-duct or shield 9 in the manner and for the purpose to be presently described. The duct 9 is preferably made with the downwardly-extending side pieces I00 10, which are arranged at angles, so as to extend toward each other and from the open bottom 11., as will be more clearly understood from an inspection of Figs. 5, 6, 7,. and 8 of the drawings. At intervals within the said receiving portion or member 3! are secured in any desirable manner any suitable number of clamps 12, each clamp being made with the upwardly-extending holding-fingers 13. These fingers, as will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 5, 6, and 7, have their central portions 14 slightly bent over against and resting upon the inner curved edges 15 of the reflector-body, and when the said protectorduct or shield 9 has been placed between these holding-fingers 13 it will rest directly upon these central and slightly outwardly extending parts 14, and then by bending the free end portions of said fingers 13 over against the outer surface of the said protectorduct or shield 9 the latter will be securely held in position within the reflector 1 and closes the upper open part of the receiving part or member 3, while at the same time the upper and slightly curve-shaped part of the said protector-duct or shield 9 forms a desirable finish to the lower interior portion of the said trough-shaped portion 2. The said protector-duct or shield 9 is made in its upper curved part with any number of outlets or openings 16 for leading the wires 7 to the lamps 8, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, and each lamp 8 is secured and retained in its proper position above the said protector-duct or shield 9 by means of the supporting devices, which preferably comprise a pair of upwardly-extending wire posts 17, suitably secured at their lower ends to the said protector-duct or shield 9 and formed with a loop 18, which is arranged about the lampsocket, and thereby retains the lamp in its proper position within the reflector-body 1 in the manner represented in the several figures of the drawings. Of course it will be evident that these lamp-holders are not necessarily made of wire, and they may be otherwise constructed and still serve the purposes for which they are intended. The said reflectorbody and protector-duct or shield are usually made from sheet metal and readily drawn into their proper shapes by means of proper tools; but itis not essential to this invention that these parts he made from sheet metal. They may be made in any desirable lengths and may be easily cut to the length desired by the workman when arranging and securing the device in the show-case for the purpose of illuminating the same.

One manner of arranging the device in the show-case is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and I it is as follows: The main reflector-body 1,

with the protector-duct or shield 9 detached, is arranged with its receiving portion or member 3 against the inner surface of the usual molding 19 of the glass show-case and then secured in its fixed position by means of screws or pins 20, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 40f the drawings. The wires 7 are next arranged in the said receiving member 3 and the duct member or shield 9 secured in position by means of the clamping or holding devices 12 in the manner hereinabove mentioned. The wires 7 are then passed through the openings 16 and the lamps 8 arranged in the supporting-loops 18 and connected with the said wires.

From the above description of my invention it will be clearly seen that I have devised a simply-constructed device for illuminating a show-case, but which may also be put to other uses in stores, art-galleries, or wherever desired, which can be easily put in place and at a slight cost.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations 0f the parts without departing from the scope of my present invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various parts as described in the previous specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do I-confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a mainreflector-body, of a semicircular cross-section and having a longitudinally-extending channel forming a receiving member for the reception of electric Wires, of a shield arranged over the said receiving member, and means connected with said shield for the support of an electric lamp, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a main reflector-body of a semicircular cross-section and having a longitudinally-extending channel forming a receiving member for the reception of electric wires, of a shield over the said receiving member, the

said shield being provided with openings through which the electric wires are passed, and means connected with said shield and contiguous to the said openings for the support of electric lamps above the said shield, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a main reflector-body of a semicircular cross-section and having a longitudinally-extending channel forming a receiving member for the reception of electric wires, of a shield arranged over the said receiving member, the said shield being provided with openings through which the electric wires are passed, and wire posts on said shield, and a holding-loop between said posts for the support of an electric lamp in each loop, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a main reflector-body having a receiving member for the reception of electric wires, of a series of holding-clamps in said receiving member, a shield arranged over the said receiving member, holding-fingers on said ICC clamps adapted to be arranged around the said shield to hold the same in place, and the said shield being provided with an open bottom, and means connected with said shield for the support of an electric lamp, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a main reflector-body having a receiving member for the reception of electric wires, of a series of holding-clamps in said receiving member, a shield arranged over the said receiving member,holdingfingers on said clamps adapted to be arranged around the said shield to hold the same in place, and the said shield being provided with an open bottom, and said shield being also provided with openings through which the electric wires are passed, and means connected with said shield and contiguous to the said openings for the support of electric lamps above the said shield,

. substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a main reflector-body having a receiving member for the reception of electric wires, of a series of holding-clamps in said receiving member, holding fingers on said clamps adapted to be arranged around the said shield to hold the same in place, and the said shield being provided with an open bottom, and said shield being also provided with openings through which the electric wires are passed, and wire posts on said shield and a holding-loop between said posts for the support of an electric lamp, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The herein-described reflector for showcases, comprising, a trough-shaped main body 2 of asemicircular cross-section, a rearwardlyextending receiving member 3 of a rectangular cross-section, and a shield detachably arranged above the said receiving member, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. The herein-described reflector for showcases, comprising, a trough-shaped main body 2 provided with a rearwardly-extending receiving member 3, holding-clamps in said receiving member, and a shield detachably arranged between the holding-fingers of said clamps and above the said receiving member, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

0. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a trough-shaped reflector-body, provided with a rearwardly-extending receiving member for the reception of electric wires and means in said receiving member for securing the reflector in a show-case, of a shield arranged over the said receiving member, and means connected with said shield for the support of an electric lamp, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a main reflector-body of a semicircular cross-section and having a longitudinally-extending channel forming a receiving member for the reception of electric wires, and means in said receiving member for securing the reflector in a show-case, of a shield arranged over the said receiving member, the said shield being provided with openings through which the electric wires are passed, and means connected with said shield and contiguous to the said openings for the support of electric lamps above the said shield, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a main reflector-body of a semi-' circular cross-section and having a longitudinally-extending channel forming a receiving member for the reception of electric wires, and means in said receiving member for securing the reflector in a show-case, of a shield arranged over the said receiving member, the

said shield being provided with openings through which the electric wires'are passed, and wire posts on said shield and a holdingloop between said posts for the support of an electric lamp in each loop, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. In a reflector for show-cases, the combi nation, with a trough-shaped reflector-body provided with a rearwardly-extending receiving member for the reception of electric wires, and means in said receiving member for securing the reflector in a show-case of a series of holding-clamps in said receiving member, a shield arranged over said receiving member, holding-fingers on said clamps adapted to be arranged around the said shield to hold the same in place, and the said shield being provided with an open bottom, and means connected with said shield for the support of an electric lamp, substantially as and for th purposes set forth.

13. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a trough-shaped reflector-body provided with a rearwardly-extending receiving member for the reception of electric wires and means in said receiving member for securing the reflector in a show-case, of a series of holding-clamps in said receiving member, a shield on said clamps adapted to be arranged around the said shield to hold the same in place, and the said shield being provided with an open bottom, and said shield being also provided with openings through which the electric wires are passed, and means connected with said shield and contiguous to the said openings for the support of electric lamps above the said shield, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. In a reflector for show-cases, the combination, with a trough-shaped reflector-body provided with a rearwardly-extending receiving member for the reception of electric wires, and means in said receivingv member for securing the reflector in a show-case, of a series of holding-clamps in said receiving member, a shield arranged over said receiving member, holding-fingers on said clamps adapted.

to be arranged around the said shield to hold the same in place, and the said shield being provided with an open bottom, and said shield & 735,670

being also provided with openings through forth above I have hereunto set my hand this which the electric wires are passed, and wire 22d day of August, 1902. posts on said shield and a holding-loop between said posts for the support of an elec- WILLARD MERRITT' 5 trio lamp, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set Vitnesses:

CHAS. O. GILL, GEO. FRINK SPENCER. 

